History of Alaska - Part 1

A Brief History of Alaska
James L Bradley - Kanook

Tlingit Nation, Raven Moiety, Dog Salmon Clan
Part One
The Russians
The European history of Alaska begins with the myth of Atlantis in the
Atlantic, and the myth of “Gama” land in the Pacific, a myth that was supported
in the reality of some by the remnants of some South Sea Islands and by the
fact that at the close of 18th century little was known about the North Pacific. Sir
Francis Drake1, having reached a undisclosed point north of San Francisco and
the Russians going eastward from Siberia reaching the Sea of Okhotsk, caused
tales and rumors about Gama land and the fabled Straits of Anian (known to the
English as the Northwest Passage), supported in fact by information from the
voyage of Juan de Fuca..
Native tradition in Southeast Alaska sometimes relates to these stories and
tales as the origination of the people as a significant part of their history. There
is an “old” story that relates the coming of strange people from the western
ocean, which had among them two sisters. They are said to have landed on
Dall Island where the sisters met and married men whose people had migrated
down the rivers from the interior of North America. One sister went with her
new family to the Queen Charlotte Islands, her children said to have multiplied
becoming the Haida Nation. The other sister and her family settled on Prince of
Wales Island, where she became the ancestor (or) ancestress Mother of the
Tlingit Nation23.
Regardless of myth or “no” myth, in the days of Peter
the Great4 this land was believed to have existed among a
great many sailors of Northern Europe. It is generally
believed that this “mythical land” was often discussed
among the sailors and as time went on the desire to
discover this new land grew far beyond just common
1
June 17th, 1579
2
It is thought that the Tlingit have inhabited for over 11,000 years, artifacts in Angoon have been found that have carbon
dated back 9,300 years
3
from Vancouver Island north to Cross Sound Tlingits were known as the “fiercest” and “bloodiest” of all the
native peoples on the west coast of America
4
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Russia#Peter_the_Great
A Brief History of Alaska – Page 1

“boarding house” talk, and eventually made its way to the ears of Peter the
Great. Peter at the time was working (under one of his many disguises) as a
common labor on the docks in Europe and having participated in these
discussions from time –to- time generated a great interest in the “Gama Land”.
It was during this time that Peter made the acquaintance of
many Danish sailors, one being Vitus Jonassen Bering (Ivan
Ivanovich] who later was to join the Russian Navy in 1703.
Peter understood the value of finding this “Gama-Land”,
knowing that Siberia was always laboring under a great many
difficulties in providing for its population, and calculated that if
he was to find this mythical land he would be able to supply food and other
materials that were needed desperately in Siberia. He also realized that this
discovery would enhance the dominion of Russia making it possible for his
country to be as great on the sea, as it was on land.
Many years were to pass before Peter’s grand plan was to bear fruit and it
wasn’t until 1724 that he endorsed an order5 to explore east of Siberia but, as a
matter of record it wasn’t till after Peter the Greats death on January 28 th, 1725
that Vitus Bering was to begin his quest for Gama Land under the order of
Peter’s successor Catherine the First6 7. Vitus chose for his assistants, Alexei
Chirikov, a navy lieutenant and Martin Petrovich Spanberg also a lieutenant in
the Russian Navy.
Vitus under rule of the government8 journeyed overland to Okhotsk9, crossed
to Kamchatka were he build the ship Sviatoi Gavriil (St Gabriel). On this ship on
July 13th, 1728 he sailed from Kamchatka River northeast (usually in sight of
land). On August 11th he sighted land to the east and named it St Lawrence
5
Characteristically, when handing over the directions to Admiral Pyotr Apraksin for Bering, Peter I was quoted as saying:
"Once we have protected our Fatherland from enemies, we should bring it glory through the arts and sciences. In our search
for such a route, we will be more successful than the Dutch and the English, who have already made numerous attempts to
reach the American coast."
6
Catherine I (In Russian: Екатерина I Алексеевна) (April 15, 1684 – May 17, 1727), the second wife of Peter the Great,
reigned as Empress of Russia from 1725 until her death. She also functioned as co-ruler with her husband from 1724 until
his death early in the next year
7
In 1727, the Admiralty decided to send another exploration expedition to be commanded by navigator Ivan Fyodorov and
land surveyor Mikhail Gvozdev, who in August of 1732 crossed the Bering Strait, discovered the Diomede Islands and
approached Alaska in the vicinity of Prince of Wales Cape. The expedition reported that what they had discovered was "not
an island but a far greater portion of land... a landmass."
8
Peter II (Russian: Пётр II Алексеевич or Pyotr II Alekseyevich) (October 23, 1715 – January 29, 1730) was Emperor of
Russia from 1727 until his death. He was the only son of Tsarevich Alexei Petrovich, son of Peter I of Russia by his first
Empress consort Eudoxia Lopukhina, and Princess Charlotte of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, a sister-in-law of Charles VI,
Holy Roman Emperor. He was also the only male-line grandson of Peter the Great.
9
First Russian settlement in the Russian Far East, located at the mouth of the Okhotsk River on the Sea of Okhotsk, it was
established in 1647, who had for a governor at the beginning of Vitus trips Anton de Vieira, a Portuguese Jew

Island (after a brief exploration), going onto the northeast he passed through
the strait (later named for him) past the Diomede islands (previously
documented by Semyon Ivanovice Dezhnev in 1648), and up into the Arctic
Ocean. Upon reaching North 67 degrees and 18 minutes, he decided that he
had passed the extreme eastern point of the Asia coast; turning back he
followed the Siberian coast reaching the mouth of the Kamchatka River on
September 2nd 1728 completing his first voyage of the Pacific in fifty-one days.
The following year (spring-1729) he a made a fruitless trip eastward from the
mainland, having traveled eastward for 100 miles and finding nothing he
returned to Okhotsk from where he begin his overland trip to St Petersburg.
Bering and his family returned to St Petersburg reaching the capital on March
31st, 1730 after a total absence of five-years. Unfortunately during the long trip
across Siberia Bering became very ill and almost perished, five of his children
did not survive the trip. On his return to St Petersburg he received a
commission to commence with a further expedition to the east, and on his
return to Okhotsk in 1735 had local craftsman “Makar Rogachev and Andrey
Kozmin” build him two vessels, the Sviatoi Piotr (St Peter) and Sviatoi Pavel (St
Paul).
While he was absent on his first voyage, Afanasius Shestakov (a Cossack
officer of eastern Siberia) presented to the government a plan for the
subjugation of the “Chukchee people”10. He was given permission to make the
“attempt” with the Russian government giving him forces for the enslavement
of the local population. On Shestakof’s return to Siberia, he equipped two
expeditions, one by the land and one by sea. The one by land was led by him,
Afanasium Shestakov and the one by sea by Captain Pavlutskyh, with a total
troop strength of over 400 soldiers. In Okhotsk, Shestakov had two ships built
for his campaign to sail up and engage the “Koryaks” in the Penshina and
Gizhiga River areas, to restore the Oklan fortress then join Captain Pavlutsky
and go together fighting the “Chuckhis”. Shestakov’s ship destroyed some
settlements on the Nayahana and Ayakan Rivers, but when they met and fought
the “Chuckhis” near the Egatche River in 1730 he along with 31 of him men
were killed and the remaining contingent disbanded. Shestakov’s other ship,
the “Vostochnyi Gavril”, sailed to Kamchatka where it was wrecked in a storm.
10
The first to present a suitable version about the conquest of Siberia to the Empire was a German historian G.F.Müller, the
head of the scientific staff of Bering's second Kamchatka expedition.

The ship “Lev” and its crew were destroyed by the “Koryaks” at the mouth of
the Yama River. The transport ship “Fortuna” managed to carry equipment and
food to “Bosheretsk” and sail to explore the Kurili Islands, the fourth ship
“Svyatoi Gavril” did not find the Shantarski Islands, returned to Kamchatka and
spent the winter in Bosheretsk. The next year it moved to “Nizhne-Kamchatsk”
with the task of conveying “supplementary” forces to Captain Pavlutsky, as the
great Itelmens’ uprising had begun.
The uprising began with the destroying of the Nizhne-Kamchatsk fortress,
but since bad weather had prevented the sailing of the Svyatoi Gavril, its
captain ordered the ships troop (77 men) with their mortars and cannons
running to help the Cossacks. They surprised the Itelmens’ and recaptured the
fortress. After the battle the chief of the Itelmen, “Harchin”, was taken captive
(with the help of a traitor) and as the Itelmens’ failed to take the “Verkhne-
Kamchatsk” fortress by storm, they dispersed into small groups. The war
against the Russians lasted nearly two years, with the Russians taking power
only after receiving help from various sources. Hundreds of Itelmens’ were
slaughtered, even after imprisonment. The wives and children were captured
and enslaved, whereas in 1729 the list of “yassak-paying aborigines” consisted
of 2,983 men – in 1735 only 2,055 were on the same list.
After some “glorious” victories over the Chuckhis, Captain Pavlutsky in 1732
went as the leader of 225 Cossacks and hundreds of supplementary forces
made up of local natives, to fight against the Koryaks in the Gizhiga River
region. Numerous settlements were burned and “all” native people murdered –
in some fights “Koryaks” killed their own families and then defended
themselves up to the last man, but to no avail. When Pavlutsky turned back to
“Yakutsk”, the Chuckhi and the Koryaks rebelled again.
The next year (1733) a major Merlin, with additional forces, arrived in
Kamchatka and Captain Pavlutsky was sent to assist him. In the meantime,
taking into account the huge distance from Yakutsk to the eastern shores, ruling
of Eastern Siberia was now concentrated in Okhotsk. In the Penzhina Bay area a
new fort was constructed on the banks of the Yama River – its sole purpose
being to better control the Koryaks.
Within this political and violent atmosphere Bering began his second
expedition to Kamchatka – with instructions in strictest confidence duplicating

the instructions of the first expedition, and in addition to convert the locals to
Christianity.
In the meantime a expedition using the St Gabriel (Bering's first ship) left
Kamchatka on July 12th, 1732 under the command of Jacob Hens, with Ivan
Fedorof as his lieutenant, and under the navigational command of Michael
Spiridinovich Gvozdef (a geology professional) sailed northeast and upon
reaching the Diomedes (and being opposed by the local natives on Big
Diomede), they landed on Little Diomede where they noted in their log the
sighting of land to the east.
On August 21st, 1732 they sailed eastward toward that land but were unable
to go ashore, skirting the coast they sailed south and because of the shallow
sea had to stand offshore for five days of sailing. Disappointed they sailed back
to Kamchatka; this by all accounts was the first sighting of the land today called
Alaska.
As for Captain Bering who had enemies at the Russian court who disliked
him as a foreigner and were very jealous of him as a commander of a Russian
expedition, his records were questioned, and in truth were not fully acceptable
until they were verified by another foreigner Captain Cook in 1778 – politics! In
December, 173211 overcoming these nay-sayers, the Russian Senate approved
the plan for a second expedition, making Bering commander, and assigned
other duties that had been outlined by him earlier. They included the survey of
the Arctic coast and a side expedition to Japan, it was labeled the Great
Northern Expedition. This expedition took over 2-years to organize and
eventually had over 10,000 people in its scope.
The first detachment left St Petersburg in February – 1733 12, with others
following later. Bering now a Captain-Commander and his two previous
assistants, Chirikov and Spanberg promoted to Captain-Lieutenants, along with
a comprehensive scientific core had begun their second exploration.
Bering went to “Tobolsk”, built a boat for the first Arctic expedition and sent
it down the Irtish River13 to the Arctic coast in May-1734. He then went to
11
17th of April, 1732, orders has been issued by the government it took until December for them to be approved
12
Anna Ioannovna (Russian: Анна Иоанновна) (February 7, 1693, Moscow - October 28, 1740) reigned as Duchess of
Courland from 1711 to 1730 and as Empress of Russia from 1730 to 1740.
13
a river in Central Asia, the chief tributary of the river Ob. Its name means White River. It is actually longer than the Ob
to their confluence. Irtysh's main affluent is Tobol River.

“Yakutsk”, built two boats, which sailed down the Lena River 14 in June-1735, and
then went on to “Okhotsk”.
The trip to Okhotsk proved to be a difficult task, where the freight (and there
was plenty of that) was roped up swift mountain streams by the men wading in
very cold rivers or along their banks, packed over divides by horses and finally
floated down the Urak River to Okhotsk. At one time 1,000 men (with another
2,000 involved in different stages for overland transportation) and 4,000 horses
were employed, many of both were drowned and some even freezing to death.
At Okhotsk the expedition for Japan was placed under the command of
Captain-Lieutenant Martin Petrovich Spanberg15.
Bering then (using the ships constructed by the local craftsman, Makar
Rogachev and Andrey Kozmin) left Okhotsk in September-1740 and established,
upon reaching Avacha Bay (Avachinskaya Bay), the settlement of Petropavlovsk
(or Peter and Paul) on the Kamchatka peninsula.
It was from this base of operations that Bering (in command of the St Peter)
led an expedition to North American on June 4th 174116 (Bering was one-month
shy of being 60 years old), accompanied by his deputy, Aleksei Ilyich Chirikov
(38 years old in 1741), in command of the St Paul. The St Peter, Bering's ship
had a crew of seventy-six men including17 Lieutenant Waxel, Shipmaster Khitrof
and the scientist George Wilhelm Steller18. Chirikov (on the St Paul) had in his
command seventy-six men, and Marine Officers Chegatschof and Plautin with
the scientist Louis Delisle de Croyere19.
Sailing eastward together, they were separated during a gale on the night of
the 19th of June. Chirikov sailed in a east-northeasterly direction and it is noted
that on the 15th of July-1741 sighted land near “Cape Addington” on the west
side of Prince of Wales Island – moving slowly northwest he entered a bay on
14
in Siberia is the 10th longest river in the world and has the 9th largest watershed. Rising at the height of 1640 m at its
source in the Baikal Mountains
15
In 1738, Captain Martin Spanberg examined the Kurili Islands. In 1739, Spanberg, in the St. Michael, Walton, in the
double shallop, the Gabriel and a small yacht, made the voyage to Japan.
16
Yelizaveta (Yelisavet) Petrovna (Russian: Елизаве́та (Елисаве́т) Петро́вна) (December 29, 1709 - January 5, 1762
(N.S.); 18 December 1709 - 25 December 1761 (O.S.)), also known as Elizabeth, was an Empress of Russia (1741 - 1762)
17
Gerhard Friedrich Müller. The German-born Müller, a professor at the Russian Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburg,
who only remained with the task force until 1738
18
Georg Wilhelm Steller (March 10, 1709 - November 14, 1746) was a German botanist, zoologist, physician and
explorer, who worked in Russia and present-day Alaska.
19
Louis De l'Isle de la Croyère - a French astronomer. 1741 were De l'Isle with the Russian discoverer Alexei
Iljitsch Tschirikow on the ship pc. Paul on the way from Kamtschatka to Alaska. On the return journey it died
at the Awatscha bay of scurvy. It was buried in close proximity to Awatscha.

the 17th, which is navigator noted at 57°15’ North Latitude somewhere in the
vicinity of present day Sitka – this author finds it interesting that no mention is
made of Mt Edgecombe, albeit their writing never mentioned the numerous
volcanoes on Kamchatka.
Shortly after arriving, Chirikov sent a long-boat ashore with ten men armed
with muskets and small brass cannon, under the command of his mate,
Abraham Dementief – after not returning he sent boatswain, Sidor Savalilef with
six men went to recall the first group – neither group was ever heard from
again20.
The next day they were approached by the Tlingit and repelled a supposed
planned attack by the locals, leaving shortly (July 27th) after this he remarked
that his only regret about the incident was that he “didn’t let the natives
approach his ship close enough to capture one of the canoes and their
occupants”. After waiting for a few days Chirikov gave up all hope for the return
of his men, and having no other long-boats set sail for Petropaulovsk. Sailing
northwest he sighted high mountains near the entrance to Cook Inlet, turned
south and passed along the east side of Kodiak Island, turned west along the
Alaska Peninsula where on September 4th he again saw land, on September 20th
he dropped anchor in a small bay and met some local inhabitants.
As the trip continued home Chirikov and many of his men suffered the
effects of scurvy, and proceeding with all speed towards Awatscha Bay, missing
the storms that caused Bering’s eventual death. On October 9th he finally
reached Petropaulovsk, having lost a total of twenty men and had so many of
crew with scurvy that “Yelagin”, was the only navigating officer able for duty.
Louis Delisle de la Croyere, the astronomer, died when brought on deck in the
fresh air.
Bering sailed on and according to published records on July 16th he sighted
Mt St Elias just 36-hours after Chirikov dropped anchor near Sitka. On the 19 th
he was close to the southern point of Kayak Island, (known as Cape St Elias); he
anchored between Kayak Island and Wingham Island – where he named Kayak
Island as St Elias Island in honor of the Saint of the day. Steller searched on
20
Chevalier de Poletica, Russian Minister at Washington in 1822, in a dispatch to the American Secretary of State, says
that, in 1789, the Spanish ship San Carlos, commanded by de Aro, found in the latitude fifty-eight and fifty-nine degrees,
"Russian establishments to the number of eight (50% of original group) consisting in the whole of twenty families and four
hundred and sixty-two individuals. These were the descendants of the companions of Captain Chirikov, who were supposed
till then to have perished."

shore for objects of natural history21 and for evidence of human habitation
finding houses containing articles of household use, some of which he took on
board the ship.
Taking on water, Bering turned westward on the 21st (under the protest of
Steller) sailing home – a few days later he sighted Kodiak Island sailing on the
eastern side, drifted at night through Douglas Passage, and on August 2nd
discovered and named “Tammanoi” or “Foggy Island” (Chirikov Island) as his
officers placed it on their charts. On August 30th they landed on a small island
to bury one of the first sailors to die of scurvy and named the island after him,
Shumagin. On another island they stopped and met some local natives. After
setting the standards of the meeting everything seemed to be going smoothly,
that is until one of the Russian seamen gave a local a drink of brandy. The
native upon tasting the vile liquid, spit it out and made motions that the
invaders where trying to poison them – suspicions ran high so Bering (without
taking on fresh water) left in a hurry making sail for home.
They sailed to the westward on September 6th, but the delay of stopping at
Shumagin Island cost them plenty – getting caught up in a storm on the 24 th
they were “driven” back to the southeast for a distance of nearly 300 miles. For
seventeen days there were beaten and buffeted by the winds off the south
shore of the Aleutian Islands. On November 4th, they were supposed to have
seen the Kamchatka peninsula, whereas a council of officers conferred on
whether they should make landfall or sail on to Petropaulovsk – the crew was in
deplorable condition as was the ship itself. The rain had turned to snow and
sleet which froze on the decks and the rigging, which was rotting and was
breaking apart. And the continued ravages of scurvy had left very few crewmen
to operate the ship from watch to watch.
Bering advised the council to make for Awatscha Bay at any cost, but Waxel
and Khitrov opposed him and they decided to land. It was to be the death blow
for Bering.
Steller and Waxel went ashore to reconnoiter – finding a land covered with
snow and with only driftwood as wood. On the 8 th of November they started the
transfer of the sick to the beach (some of whom died immediately on exposure
to the outside elements), and others shortly after reaching shore. The
21
During this time Steller became the first European naturalist to describe a number of North American plants and animals,
including a jay later named Steller's Jay.

abundances of blue foxes proved to be a big nuisance, where they disturbed the
dead and even bothered the sick and dying who were too weak to defend
themselves.
They dug caves on the seashore finding ravines, and pits to work with and in
covering them with driftwood constructed their shelters. Bering being brought
ashore and very sick survived for a month in these conditions, no fresh food or
proper food and medical care was as distant as the moon. On December 19 th,
174122 Vitus Jonassen Bering gave up his life, just 4 months over the age of
60.
Shortly after landing another storm battered the sea coast driving the St
Peter ashore, a total wreck was the result.
As time progressed and a new year arrived the crew no longer suffered from
scurvy (those that had survived) and Steller found the island a rich field for
investigations and to this day we owe some most interesting material to his
explorations23. The sea otter were on land in mass, the fur seal was as thick as
thieves, there were foxes all
over the place (over 60
were killed in one day), the
great mammal,
Hydrodamalis gigas in the
scientific order Sirenia,
today called the Steller Sea Cow were abundant and became a chief source of
food for the remaining crew.
Constructing a 40-foot boat from the remaining wreckage, the crew sailed
away from Bering Island on August 12th, 1742 arriving in Petropaulovsk with
forty-six of the original crew of seventy-seven men.
There are two main islands (today), Bering and Medny Island and two very
small islets in this group of islands where they landed, called the “Commander
Group”.
In the mean time, efforts to locate “Gama” land continued, resulting in many
trips to the coast line of Alaska. And with discovery and charting of Alaska,
Russia had set a claim to the land opening the path for the Promishleniki, who
22
some reference December 8th, 1741 as his death
23
During this time Steller wrote De Bestiis Marinis, describing the fauna of the island, including the Northern Fur Seal, the
Sea Otter, Steller's (or Northern) Sea Lion, Steller's Sea Cow, Steller's Eider and Spectacled Cormorant.

later swept along the coast and explored every bay and inlet until finally
permanent settlements were established, which completed the “title” of the
Czar to his holdings in the colonies in America – Bering and Chirikov had broken
the mystery of the unknown and blazed their way across three thousand miles
of uncharted seas, more than 60-years before Lewis and Clark crossed the
continent of North America24.
Beginning Russian Fur Trade and the Promishleniki

Interest in this new land seemed to disappear after Bering expedition
returned, where the coasts of the east would have abandoned completely if it
hadn’t been for the furs that returned with the crews. The sea otter 25 especially
turned the heads of the fur traders of Siberia, who had followed the sable26 for
nearly a century; the sea otter was to become the primary force behind the
Russian expansion into Alaska.
Russian furs were generally sold in China, whereas even furs from Canada
were routed through St Petersburg and sold in China. The Treaty of Kiachta27
between the Russians and Chinese provided the ports of Kiachta and Zuruchiatu
for trade between the two nations. The estimated 2005 value of the furs
brought back by the Bering crew of the 900 skins returned with is at $1.5 mil
(comparing to the Consumer Price Index) with an “unskilled wage value” of $25
million. A hefty sum even in 1700s equal to about 3 million rubles, of which I
have no comparison in dollar vs. ruble value. The Russian fortress of Kiachta
and the Chinese city of Miamastchin shared the banks of a stream near the
international border south of Irkutsk.
The furs from the Aleutian Islands and the Alaskan coasts went to Okhotsk
and from there by pack trains to Kiachta, this continued until the opening of the
direct trade route by sea with Canton in the early part of the 19 th century. After
24
The names of Bering, Chirikov, Stepan Malygin, Fyodor Minin, Dmitry Ovtsyn, Vasily Pronchishchev, Chelyuskin, and
Khariton and Dmitry Laptev will stay forever in the history of geographic discoveries.
25
The Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris) is a large otter native to the North Pacific, from northern Japan and Kamchatka east
across the Aleutian Islands south to California. The heaviest of the otters, Sea Otters are the only species within the genus
Enhydra.
26
Said to have played a major role in the development of Siberia
27
The treaty which established trade between Russia and China at “Kiachta” provided that no one should reside there
except merchants engaged in traffic. No officer could live there, nor could any person whatever beyond merchants and their
employees and families remain over night. No stone buildings except a church could be erected, and visits of strangers
were to be discouraged.

Bering, the hunters now faced new dangers on the waters of the eastern ocean
using small poorly constructed and poorly equipped vessels built of material
they could lay their hands on, on the shores of the Sea of Okhotsk.
One Sergeant Emelian Basof (financed by Andrei Serebrennikov) in 1743 (in
a sewed boat [no nails] or shitik – Kapitan) went as far east, with his crew of 30,
as Copper Island (near Bering Island in the Commander Group) securing 60
pounds of copper, 1600 sea otter pelts, 2000 blue Arctic fox skins, and 2000 fur
seals, he made three trips to this region – hence setting the stage for the
exploitation of the Alaskan resources by the Russians.
In 1745, Michael Nevodchikov (the silversmith who was with Bering on his
last voyage) began another expedition landing first in the Near Islands at
Agatuu where sending a boat ashore for water scattered almost 100 local
residents. On their return to the shoreline the natives asked for one of the
Russian muskets, being refused they attempted to take by force. A single shot
was fired by a sailor wounding a local in the hand, following this the Russians
left and upon their return to Agatuu started systematic hunts for Natives, at one
time they killed 15 Natives. The sailors in their hunt became so cruel that even
a Cossack in their company complained concerning their treatment.
Nevodchikov’s direct answer was “more shot and issue more powder”. Such
was the cruelties of that period of time that up into the 20th century the stories
had been retold many times. Nevodchikov’s expedition was not a financial
success, whereas his ship was wrecked on Kraginski Island with 12-men
drowned and most of his valuable cargo lost.
In 1753 a certain Serebrennikov sent a ship that discovered the Rat Islands,
where the ship was wrecked. The crew reached the shore and spent the next
year constructing a new boat from the wreckage and returned to Kamchatka.
Trapeznikov sent out the “shitik” St Nicholas, which sailing east found another
island returned with a cargo valued at 1,877,268 rubles. Two years later
Andrean Tolstykh visited a group of islands that were later to bear his name, the
Andreanof Islands which contain the Great Sitikan Island, where one of his crew
members Peter Yasyutinsky gave an account that survives today. He
mentioned in his account that about 400 families resided on the island.
Other adventurers sailed out on the eastern ocean, and met with varying
results. Stephen Glottof went as far as to the Fox Islands in 1759 and made the

first exploration of that group, later in 1763 he was to explored Kodiak Island
spending an entire winter with his crew in the region. Gavril Pushkarev sailing
in 1759 made a landing on the mainland on the Peninsula of Alaska and was
well received until his crew attempted to seize some girls, causing a fight where
several of his crew was killed. In retaliation the Russians killed some hostages,
and sailing from Umnak took with them six-men and twenty-five girls. At one
point when landing they sent some of the girls to pick berries; two ran away,
one was killed, some drowned themselves, then in order to remove any
witnesses Pushkarev threw all, but two boys, into the sea to drown. After
returning to Siberia a rumor leaked out detailing the outrage, the authorities
upon hearing this rumor began an investigation. The result? Only a stern
warning was issued that such outrages would not be tolerated in the future!
Many such expeditions started and ended in cruelty with the Natives of
Alaska bearing the brunt of the actions of the merchant class from Siberia. One
such merchant from Irkutsk, Bechevin lead an expedition were local men were
killed and their wives were taken from the villages. The reports of the
expedition made their way back to the Russian capital causing such a stir as to
cause the Empress of Russia Catherine II28, or Catherine the Great to issue an
order that adopted the policy of letting “only” those go on these voyages that
were licensed by the government. But, all the previous evils had been done and
weight heavily on the inhabitants of Alaska as the reports of the cruelties had
passed from island to island.
As it is written so many times in fiction, the Natives were getting restless, so
much so that when Stephen Glottof landed on Kodiak 29 the locals tried to set fire
to the ship, advancing behind what appeared to be bullet proof vests and
shields they were defeated by Glottof and withdrew to the hills. Stephen made
it known he wanted to be friendly attempting to trade items like cotton and
other woolen goods, seems they didn’t accept these things, finally he offered
beads and other ornaments that appealed to them. Glottof located a young
Aleut man who had learned some Russian, who through rough translation asked
the locals what they thought of the ship as it approached. Their response
indicated they believed it was a big whale, and when the large guns on board
fired a warning shot they thought all white people were devils. After a visit and
28
born Sophie Augusta Fredericka of Anhalt-Zerbst (Catherine the Great)
29
One Ship made the voyage the Andrean & Natalie, this until this time had been unvisited by White People

some exploration Glottof left the Kodiak Islands after a stay lasting over the
winter.
The Kodiak Islanders tell a different story of the encounter of a ship landing
near the island of Alitak where the natives went to the Russians to trade furs for
beads and other goods, and were set upon with many of them killed and the
Russians took all their furs. This one I believe – Glottof was a ruthless man.
Glottof left with his next stop being Umnak Island reestablishing trade in a
region he was familiar and felt comfortable in his trades.
The Aleuts Rebel

Of the five ships that sailed in 1762/1763/1764 30 to the Fox Islands, Aleutians
and points beyond only one returned, the Andrean and Natalie, the rest fell into
the hands of the outraged Aleuts and were destroyed along with most of their
crews. The locals were pretty upset, to say the least – civilization was on its
way to Alaska.
The Russians for several years utilized the eastern islands (Unalaska, Umnak
and Akutan) for their bases and local human resources. Their practice was to
take young children as hostages, forcing the men of the villages to hunt for the
Russians and sell them furs. Consequently the men had little time to hunt for
food or furs which their own families needed to survive. In addition to the
preceding, the Russians (laying about and getting bored) where quick to
entertain themselves with their guns, at time pointing at and shooting a local
resident just for sport, although some were killed by accident – nevertheless
locals were dying at the expense of good entertainment for the fur traders.
Many incidents occurred during the time in question in several different
locations in the Unalaska region, some legends tell of meetings amongst the
headmen from various villages during the fall, where the men agreed that all
Unangans (Aleuts) would act especially nice/friendly with the traders, offering
up their best furs and giving hostages without a fuss. It was their hope that the
Russians would relax and eventually be off guard against an attack.
Four ships were working the region at the time, seeing that events were
friendly they decided to separate in hopes of expanding their hunting scope.
One of the four ships, the Holy Trinity, under the command of Ivan Korovinm
30
On Jun 28, 1762 Catharine II, Russian Tsarina, grabbed power. 1762-1796 Catherine the Great ruled over
Russia

anchored near “Kosheega” a small bay on the west side to Unalaska Island,
Medvedelf’s31 ship went to the north side of Umnak, while Alexei Drushinin with
his ships the Zacharias and Elizabeth32 discovered the harbor of Unalaska
(Dutch Harbor), where Drushinin hauled his ship for some minor repairs. The
fourth boat went farther to the east to Isanotski Strait.
At Captains Harbor the locals appeared to be friendly, bringing excellent furs
for trade, and were told where the other boats were anchored. For the Russians
extracting the hostages proved painless and without fuss, furthering the
impression that everything was okay. Alexei Drushinin sent out parties, one to
Kalekhta and another to Biroka, where he later went in person.
After Drushinin had gone to Biroka with some additional members of his
crew an attack was made on the remaining crewmembers, every man perished.
The creek near the scene was named for a very long time, Ubienna or Massacre
Creek! On the same day, at Biroka, the locals attacked the party and killed all
but five of the Russian party. Gregory Shavarin and four of his companions
managed to make it into a barabara (underground hut) where they kept the
attacking locals at bay for four-days. During the night time hours they managed
to secure a bidar and went to Kalekhta only finding that the men there had
suffered the same fate as their unfortunate companions. Going on to Captains
Harbor and finding the same thing, they quickly secured some articles from the
remaining ship stores and retreated to the mountains above the bay and were
to remain there for over nine-months. In August or September of the “next”
year a friendly local informed them that Ivan Korovin was in Makushin Bay –
making a small bidar from the leather sacks in which their provisions had been
stored they made their way to the bay, where they joined Ivan aboard his ship
the Holy Trinity.
Ivan Korovin had the previous August, reached Kosheega on the 15th of the
month and anchored his ship in the bay, later moving his ship to Makushin
where he prepared and went into winter quarters. The Holy Trinity and its crew
were to have received the same action by the locals as the Drushinin party, but
Korovin was warned by a local allowing him to successfully defend his ship. He
was harassed to a point that he pulled anchor and moved offshore, confined to
31
Over two hundred years later, in 1970, archaeologists found the bones of Medvedev and the 12 other Russians at Chaluka
on Umnak Island.
32
from the bible Luke 1.5 to 25

their ship (through the winter) they suffered from scurvy and the lack of food
and it was in this state of sickness, that the remaining crew of the Zacharias
and Elizabeth found them.
They all soon sailed to Umnak (when informed of Drushinin death) to join
Medvedef but were wrecked on the shore of that island – the crew having
survived were soon attacked by the Aleuts killing two Russians and three
hostages, allowing the remaining hostages to escape. Although the remaining
crew defended their position, nearly all of them were wounded in some fashion
and in driving away their attackers the build a small bidar and continued to
search for Medvedef’s vessel – with strong hopes on finding it on the North side
of Umnak.
After ten-days of searching they found the remains of a ship that had been
burned, and the remains of twenty men including Medvedef. They buried the
dead, and investigated their means of escape from this land of death. At the
end of their rope, despair running high they watched from the beach one day as
the Andrean and Natalie sailed around a point, Stephen Glottof had arrived from
Kodiak. He took the information back to Siberia and vengeance became the
word of the day among the promishleniki of Russia.
It was not as one-sided or without provocation as it may appear, remember
these events were just a small portion of the overall conditions in the Aleutians,
where most of the atrocities were not in the Aleut’s favor.
Over sixty-years later many details of the events were noted by Father
Veniaminof33, who was the priest at Unalaska for ten years, information he had
obtained detailed an account of one of the ships crew, “Jacob” as being a rather
stout fellow. According to Veniaminof’s information shortly before the locals
assumed a manner of war, a Russian sailor, Jacob (who was very strong) had
abused some of the Aleuts even killing some of them. When the Aleuts
attacked the boat they assigned five men to go against Jacob, but with his
unusual strength he managed to kill some of his attackers with a spear that he
had pulled from one of the assailants – during the height of the battle he was
mortally wounded falling dead beside the ship.
As for the crew of the un-named ship and its master who sailed in Isanotski
Strait, they had heard that the natives contemplated hostilities, working around
33
Saint Innocent, Ivan Evseyevich Popov-Veniaminov

the expected trouble by taking the offensive and destroying some villages and
their inhabitants. They met with success at four villages but at the fifth they
were defeated, and retreated to their ship – harassed by the locals all winter,
they suffered with scurvy and other manners of ill health. In the spring, they
were attacked on the water and were all killed and the ship burned.
Revenge albeit slow in coming was cruel and very in discriminatory. Records
indicate that one Ivan Solovief after hearing of the fate of the fellow
promishleniki, took it on himself the mission of revenge, proceeding to wreak
his wrath on the islanders without discrimination – not caring about guilty or if
they were innocent. In one particular instance he had heard that over 300
locals were fortified in a single village, attacked numerous times eventually
depleting them of their arrows, placed gunpowder against the walls of their
barabaras and blew up the structures – and proceeded to kill all the survivors
huddled against the walls – the Russians had returned.
Solovief went on, under the pretext of avenging the death of his countrymen,
destroying villages and murdering the villagers on the entire southern side of
Umnak, and moved on doing the same on Samalga and the Islands of the Four
Mountains. His energy for destruction knew no bounds, finding two bidars on
the open sea with entire families on board and killing them all. It is told that
Solovief one time tied twelve Aleuts in a row, fired a musket killing eight with
the ball lodging itself in the ninth – he was testing his weapons! Finally drawing
to a close his spree (so it is written) by killing all the inhabitants of several
villages assembled on Egg Island – he was ready for his second cup of vodka.
Stephen Glottof it appears extracted his due also, he destroyed four large
villages on Umnak, where he kept the young woman along with a few strong
young men for slaves – other atrocities are credited to Glottof who at times was
as ruthless as Solovief.
Having the ability to peer back into the past reading the accounts, the
author finds the reasoning behind the initial Aleut uprising justifiable, and yet
one must remember the Russians acted in kind simply because in their mind(s)
they felt a sub-standard group of people had no right to protect their homeland
and the superior race had every right to exploit that land of opportunity, and so
it went across America. I note that at almost the same time period the Aleuts
rose up against their oppressors (and that is what they were), the Indian leader

Pontiac on the east coast was fighting the same battle, attempting to slow the
flood of aliens crossing and taking land that for centuries had been under their
dominion34.
To imagine that all of this to this date was driven by an animal(s) who had
the misfortune to have as an outer protection a fur worth millions to the people
chasing it across Siberia and eventually Alaska. As with oil today, death and
destruction ruled the day for the ownership of the almighty fur.
Behind the Fur

When a present of a royal robe of the velvety lustrous black foxes from the
islands was given by the merchants to the Czarina (Catherine the Great) or the
Empress of Russia, her excitement was immeasurable and she demanded to
know more of the land from which they came. In one particular merchant she
paid intense attention Vasili Shilof, in her court he presented a crude map of the
islands informing her of the manner in which trade could be conducted and of
the riches to be realized from that trade. She bought into the deal.
Officially she sent Lieutenant Synd of the Royal Navy on an expedition in
1764. Sailing from Okhotsk on the St Catherine he touched on St Paul Island,
drew and named St Matthew Island on his charts, and continued on the present
site of Nome, where he claimed to have landed. His finished chart (map) was
badly distorted; his lats and longs incorrect, consequently his final results of the
expedition had little value adding little to the existing knowledge of Alaska.
On May 4th, 1764 the Empress issued a ukaz (order) for another expedition,
this one was classified a “secret” naval expedition to explore and chart the
region between Asia and America. The commander was Captain-Lieutenant
Peter Kuzmich Krenitzin, with his second in command Lieutenant Michael
Levashef. They left St Petersburg on July 1st, 1764 and traveled overland to
Okhotsk where they build vessels, repaired two others and after dealing with
smallpox in Kamchatka which delayed their departure, the four ships eventually
sailed from Okhotsk on October 10th, 1766, 2 years and 3 months after leaving
St Petersburg. Misfortune struck early with a shipwreck at Bosheretsk in
Kamchatka, taking the following summer (after spending the winter here) they
34
Pontiac's Rebellion was a war launched in 1763 by North American Indians who were dissatisfied with British rule in
the Great Lakes region and the Ohio Country after the British victory in the French and Indian War/Seven Years' War
(1754–1763).

repaired the boats, sailed to Nizhnikamchatsk and there passed another winter.
Finally, on June 21st, 1768, 3 years and 11 months from St Petersburg, and they
were ready and the party sailed eastward. Krenitzin commanded the “galiot35”
St Catherine and Levashef the “hooker36” St Paul. The cruised through the
eastern part of the Aleutian chain and wintered, Lavashef in the port of
Unalaska (which now bears his name), Krenitzin anchored in the strait between
Unimak and the Alaska Peninsula. The following year (1769) both ships
returned to Kamchatka, Krenitzin arriving on July 29th, (13 months) and Levashef
on August 24th, (14 months). They wintered at Kamchatka where on July 4th,
1770 Peter Kumich Krenitzin drowned while crossing the Kamchatka River,
Levashef assumed command and returned to St Petersburg, arriving on October
22nd, 1771, 7-years, 3-months, and 21-days after leaving on July 1, 1764.
As is common with all natural resources and man, man soon outstrips the
land and its ability to replenish its resources, whether it be trees, fish or in this
case fur bearing animals – as an overall race we are voracious consumers. So,
instead of a short trip to the Commander Islands and a cargo valued at many
thousands of rubles, the promishleniki found themselves having to travel much
larger distances and spend more time on each voyage, and with this extended
distance and time the cost of each trip was fairly expensive.
As the voyages increased in cost the traders begin to form companies, as it
is today – high cost is spread among many to overcome the risk that is normally
found with an operation of this sort – spread the risk! Typically a merchant
would organize a company (keeping the majority of ownership), sell most of the
remainder while setting aside some for high government officials, the Church,
the tribute gatherer, the shipmaster, or others who might distinguish himself in
the service of the expedition. Shares that were distributed in such a fashion
were commonly known as dry shares. Between the years of 1743 and 1764
there were over 40 such companies registered with the Russian Government.
There were various other ventures into Alaska during the late 1700s until the
first charter of the Russian-American Company issued by Tsar Paul I in 1799.
35
A light, single-masted, flat bottom Dutch merchant ship
36
small merchant vessel used in the coastal waters, Some hookers had pole masts, while others had the more usual separate
mainmast and topmast, with tops, shrouds and the rest. All of the hookers had bluff rounded bows and sterns , with a high
rudder and

In 1779, Lieutenant Ignaciao de Arteaga and his second in command
Lieutenant Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra37 (now there is a mouthful)
visited Kayak Island, and Prince William Sound on the frigates Princesa and
Favorita. In 1781, Commanders Eustrate Ivanovich Delarof38, Dmitri Polutof, and
Potap Zaikof were the first Russian trading expedition into Prince William Sound.
There was a certain Captain James Strange39 and Alexander Walker40 who visited
Alaska during the year of 1786, with each of them leaving a brief detailed
account of their stay. John Meares41, captain of the Nootka, sailed eastward
through the Aleutian Islands and the Kodiak Archipelago, traveling in and out of
Cook Inlets in to Prince William Sound, spending the winter at Montague Island
in 1787. Captains Nathaniel Portlock (King George) and George Dixon (Queen
Charlotte) sailed to Alaska in 178742, missing the SW entrance into Prince
William Sound, and did not make Cape Hinchinbrook. During the summer of
1787, they returned from Hawaii and spent roughly 3-months in the vicinity of
Montague and Hinchinbrook Islands, visiting John Meares, who had survived the
winter.
There were three voyages to Prince William Sound in the spring of 1788.
Captain James Colnett43 spent April and May trading in the Sound accompanied
37
His 2nd voyage to Alaska – where he got as far as what is now close to Sitka, Alaska, reaching 59˚ North Latitude on
August 15, 17751. Failing to find any Russians, he returned southward on the 1st voyage.
38
Greek by origin, born in Peloponessus, the first documented Greek explorer and merchant, to arrive in Alaska, in 1783 he
was employed by the Panov Company, Delarof the forgotten man in Alaska History, see
http://www.pahh.com/frangos/delarof.html 1787 to 1791 1st Russian Governor of Alaska
39
After entering Prince William Sound, Strange was surprised to meet yet another vessel named the Sea Otter, this one a
trading vessel from Calcutta, commanded by William Tipping, who later disappeared with his ship en route to Cook Inlet,
never to be seen again. The Strange expedition left Prince William Sound on September 14. The Experiment reached
Macao in mid-November; the Captain Cook reached Asia in December. Strange’s expedition was not a financial success.
He died in 1840.
40
Alexander Walker later interviewed John MacKay, the first European to see how the Indians at Nootka lived during the
winter months when their most important ceremonies were held. Walker's much revised journal, unpublished until 1982,
offers rare eyewitness testimonies. “We saw many bare skulls in the possession of these people and one [with] the flesh and
hair upon it; and which was still bloody. They ate part of this raw before us, and as usual expressed the highest relish for
the food. Upon another occasion they produced an arm half roasted, feeding on it in the same manner.”
41
Meares, John -1756?–1809, British naval officer, explorer, and trader. He served in the navy, in which he attained the
rank of lieutenant, until after the Peace of Paris (1783), when he entered the merchant service. In Macao he formed a
commercial company for trade with the northwest coast of America, to which he paid his first visit in 1786. He explored
along the coast of Alaska, wintered in Prince William Sound, and then returned to East Asia. Two years later he went to
Nootka Sound, erected a trading post on its shores, and built the Northwest America, first ship launched in British
Columbia. In 1789 his establishment at Nootka Sound was seized by the Spanish; war between England and Spain was
narrowly averted. Meares later returned to the British navy and became (1795) a commander. He wrote Voyages Made in
the Years 1788 and 1789 to the North West Coast of America (1790).
42
Portlock commanded this 1785-1788 expedition from the ship King George while Dixon captained the Queen Charlotte.
The purpose of the expedition was to investigate the potential of the Alaskan fur trade and to resume Cook’s search for a
Northwest Passage through the continent. Expedition of 1785-1788 The pair left England on August 29, 1785, and took
nearly a year to reach Alaska, rounding Cape Horn and touching the west coast on their trip northward.
43
James Colnett made five Pacific voyages in the late 1700s and early 1800s, over a period of about 13 years, and in the
process he became the first European to see parts of the southern Queen Charlotte Islands.

by surgeon and naturalist Archibald Menzies44, who later returned to Alaska with
Vancouver. In May, two vessels under the command of Esteban Jose Martinez 45
(Princesa) and Gonzalo Lobez46 (San Carlos), anchored in a harbor on the
southern end of Montague Island. During the 11-days they explored the area by
small boat and traded with the locals.
Three other expeditions visited Prince William Sound and the rest of Alaska
before the turn of the century. Salvador Fidalgo47 visited in 1790 when he
“discovered” the Columbia Glacier and he named Valdez Arm.
This same year, Captain Joseph Billings48 sailed eastward in 1789 from
Okhotsk on a “secret astronomical and geographical expedition 49”, traveling as
far east as the sound. His crew members included his 2nd in command
Lieutenant Gavrila Sarychev, secretary and translator Martin Sauer and
naturalist Carl Merck, who kept all his journals of the voyage. This expedition
visited Kodiak, Montague Island, the Sound, and saw Mt St Elias – scarcity of
food forced Billings to return to Petrapavlosk, not fulfilling the original mandate
of the Empress.
The following year (1791), Alejandro Malaspina50, on a round the world
expedition sailed past Kayak Island and along the outer shores of Hinchinbrook
Island never entering the Sound he then returned to the Spanish force in Nootka
Sound (west coast of Vancouver Island) from there he returned to Mexico.
44
Archibald Menzies (March 15, 1754 – February 15, 1842) was a Scottish physician and naturalist. In 1786 Menzies
(pronounced Ming-iss) was appointed surgeon on board Prince of Wales, which was travelling round Cape Horn to the
northern Pacific. He collected a number of new plants on this voyage, and also ensured that none of the crew died of
illness.
45
In June, 1789, Spaniards under Esteban Jose Martinez established a settlement at Nootka, to protect Spanish interests.
They brought along a priest, medical doctor, a contingent of troops, and some livestock. They installed a fort, a 16-gun
emplacement, a headquarters building, barracks, a bakery, sick bay, carpentry workshop, water wells, vegetable gardens,
livestock pens, and cemetery.
46
In 1788, Esteban Martinez and Gonzalo Lopez de Haro sailed there with two frigates and established a presence in
Nootka. This occupation continued until 1795, when Spain withdrew in accordance with the Treaty of El Escorial, which
had been signed in 1790.
47
The Spaniards had spotted in western Alaska the first Russian promyslhennik (fur hunters) two years earlier and Salvador
Fidalgo had the commitment to find out the full extent of their penetration. On May 5th of 1790 he sailed in the San Carlos
out of Nootka Bay for Prince William Sound and Cook Inlet. He arrived there twenty days later to explore the gulf, which
he called Príncipe Carlos.
48
Joseph Billings (c. 1758 - 1806) was an English navigator and explorer . In 1785, the Russian government of Catherine
II commissioned a new expedition in search for the Northeast Passage, led by English officer Joseph Billings, who had
previously sailed with Captain Cook, and the Russian officer Gavril Sarychev as his deputy. This enterprise operated till
1795, this expedition was the first to “carefully” chart Alaska and the Aleutians, especially Unalaska. This expedition also
marked the close of the Russian surveys on the Eastern Coast of Siberia
49
50
Alexandro Malaspina was born on November 5, 1754 to an aristocratic and distinguished Italian family in Mulazzo, in
northern Tuscany. After studying at the Clementine College in Rome, he learned navigation as a Knight of the Order of
Malta, and worked his way up to the rank of Captain in the Spanish Navy.

The third expedition was that of Captain George Vancouver 51 (Discovery) and
Lieutenant William Broughton52 (Chatham), this was actually his 2nd trip into
Alaska, the first being spent in SE Alaska in and around the Ketchikan area. It
was Lieutenant James Whidbey who recorded the small details in and around
Prince William Sound from the back end of a small boat.
As it can be seen, there were other countries interested in Alaska, and not
just for the furs. Some were still searching for the Northwest Passage (Straits of
Anian), a fabled passage linking the Atlantic with the Pacific. Some expeditions
set out to chart the North Pacific coastline, and some were express voyages by
the respective countries to stake their claim on the lands surrounding Northern
Pacific, and all at one time or the other were after the fur.
Before the relocation of the hunters to SE Alaska, the Russians had
discovered the Pribilof Islands (or the Seal Islands as they were called in 1786).
Gerassim Pribilof53 noted (along with others) that many seals passed through
the Aleutians on a journey north during the spring months and returned in the
fall with their young, and there was a local legend (tradition) of the native
“Enghadeer”, who had been cast away on an Island to the north. So, he went
searching for this land, and with a little bit of dumb luck almost sailed into it in a
heavy fog, he named the land St George after his ship and landed there on June
12th, 1786. Leaving a party of hunters over the winter (there was no safe harbor
on the island) he returned to the Andreanof Islands. Returning on June 29,
1787, and collecting the hunters and their load of furs, he also observed land to
the northwest, and as it was the Day of the Saints, Peter and Paul the new
discovery was named after them – as of today the named has been shorten to
St Paul Island.
The islands were uninhabited, but they housed a multitude of sea otters,
walruses, foxes, sea lions and especially seals – all which hadn’t been really
disturbed for ages and this being the case had no fear of man – this leading to
51
George Vancouver (June 22, 1757 – May 12, 1798) was an officer of the Royal Navy, best known for his exploration of
North America, including the Pacific coast along present-day Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia; he also explored
the southwest coast of Australia
52
William Robert Broughton was a British naval officer in the late 18th century. As a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy, he
commanded the HMS Chatham as part of the voyage of exploration through the Pacific Ocean led by Captain George
Vancouver in the early 1790s
53
Gerassim Gavrilovich Pribilof, master in the Russian Navy, was the son of one of the sailors who accompanied Bering
in 1741. He entered the service of the Lebedef-Lastochkin company in 1778. In 1786 he sought for and discovered in
Bering Sea the breeding place of the fur seals, the group of islands that now bear his name. He died in Sitka in March,
1796.

their slaughter. There were millions of seals in the rookeries – the Russians did
their bit to reduce this number, not even coming close that first season, they
left with their eyes full of riches they figured would be untapped for years to
come.
First Russian Colony in America

Grigorh Ivanovich Shelekof54, a merchant from Rilsk (Ukraine) developed an
interest in the trade of the “Kurile Islands55”, and later outfitted a ship for the
Aleutian Island trade in 1777. This venture extended his operations and
working with Solovief and others they sent out the Barfolomei I Barnabas on this
mission to Alaska. The subsequent ventures to the Aleutians were successful,
giving rise to his additional investment in many different companies; he owned
stock in the Lebedef-Lastochkin Company when Gerassim Gavnlovich Pribilof
discovered the Pribilof Islands. He also saw and predicted the declining
condition of the fur trade, noting the depletion of the finest hunting ground;
because of his foresight he formed a plan on the islands and of the organization
of the business on a permanent basis.
One of his companies (Shelekhov-Golikof Company) ended one voyage at
Kodiak Island (three ships were outfitted at left Kamchatka on the 16 th of August
1783), where at Three Saints Bay 56 (Old Harbor) he founded the first permanent
European settlement in Alaska (Aug - 1784), his wife (Natalie A. Shelekof)
accompanied him to Kodiak and subsequently became the first “white” woman
to sail these northern seas, a woman of rare courage and ability. She was a
worthy partner of her man, and later on after his death fought for her rightful
place to run his company and was specially honored by the order of the
Empress.
From this location, where he built storehouses, offices, and dwellings, his
traders explored the mainland, going to Cook Inlet, Prince William Sound, and to
the side of the Island where the body of water between Kodiak and the Alaska
54
Grigory Ivanovich Shelikhov (Shelekhov) (Шелихов (Шелехов), Григорий Иванович in Russian; English spelling
varies from Shelekov to Shelikof) (1747, Rylsk – July 20(.. July 31), 1795) was a Russian seafarer and merchant
55
The Kuril Islands /kʰʊˈɹɪl aɪ̯ləndz/ (Russian: Кури́льские острова́ /kuˈrʲilskiɪ əstrʌˈva/) or Kurile Islands in Russia's
Sakhalin Oblast region, stretch approximately 1,300 km (700 miles) northeast from Hokkaidō, Japan, to Kamchatka,
Russia, separating the Sea of Okhotsk from the North Pacific Ocean. There are 56 islands in total.
56
Three Saints Bay is a small inlet on the southeast side of Kodiak Island in southern Alaska. It is 97 km (60 miles)
southwest of Kodiak at 57°08′N 153°30′W. The bay was the site of the first Russian settlement in Alaska in 1784 by
Grigory Shelikhov. The bay and settlement were named after one of his ships. The settlement of Three Saints Bay was
moved to the site of present-day Kodiak, Alaska in 1792 when an earthquake and tidal wave destroyed it.

Peninsula bear his name. Fur-trading centers were established at Cook Inlet,
Afognak, Karluk and other various locations. It was from this Three Saints Bay
location that Shelekhov (leaving on May 22, 1786, leaving command to a
peredovchik, leader of hunters, named Samoilof) returned to Russian where he
unsuccessfully57 sought a “grant” giving his company a monopoly over the fur
trade in Alaska, from the Catherine II (Catherine The Great). During his absence
from Three Saints Bay, he dispatched Alexandr Baranov to manage his interests
in Alaska as the residing manager58. It was during his trip to the Motherland
that he came to the attention of Nikolay Petrovich Rezanov, who at one time
had been the private secretary to the Empress, who in watching the tireless
efforts of Shelikhov and having tired of the workings of the Russian court life,
became a partner in Shelikhov company. This company was to become the
nucleus for the Russian American Company that was to become a guiding factor
in Alaska’s economy and government until its sale in 1867 to the United States
of America.
After the death of Shelikhov in 1795 Rezanov59 became the leader of wealthy
and amalgamated companies that he and other merchants owned. He set out
to obtain for these companies privileges similar to those that Great Britain had
granted to the East India Company.
He had, through his previous relationship, succeeded in getting Catherine II
to sigh his charter doing just that, but she up and died (Nov 5 th, 1796) before
endorsing the papers. Now he was forced to begin again with the ill-balanced
and intractable Emperor Paul60. The process looking hopeless he applied his
skill, subtlety and position in the prior court and eventually (before Paul’s
assassination, March 11, 1801) obtained his signature (1799) to the instrument
granting the “Russian-American Company” for a period of 20-years complete
57
It was his petition to the Empress that prompted her to send Joseph Billings (Englishman) on a Secret
Geographical And Astronomical Expedition, in September 1788, he reached Three Saints on June 20, 1789, it
was also noted during the trip by Mr. Sauer, that “these people (Russians) lord if over the inhabitants with
more despotism that generally falls to the lot of princes, keeping the islanders in a state of abject slavery.”
58
Alexandr Andreevich Baranov (Александр Андреевич Баранов in Russian), sometimes spelled Aleksander or
Alexander and Baranof, was born in 1746 in Kargopol, in the Arkhangelsk province of Russia.
59
Nikolay Petrovich Rezanov (1764-1807) was a Russian nobleman and statesman who promoted the project of Russian
colonization of Alaska and California. One of the ten barons of Russia, he was the first Russian ambassador to Japan
(1804), and instigated the first attempt of Russia to circumnavigate the globe (1803), commanding the expedition himself
as far as Kamchatka.
60
Paul I of Russia (October 1, 1754–March 23, 1801) was the Emperor of Russia between 1796 and 1801.
Paul was born in the Summer Palace at St Petersburg. He was the son of the Grand Duchess, later Empress,
Catherine. In her memoirs, she strongly implies that his father was not her husband, the Grand Duke Peter,
later Emperor, but her lover Sergei Saltykov.

dominion over the coast of North-Western America, stretching from latitude 55
degrees northward, and over the chain of islands extending from Kamchatka
northward to Alaska and southward to Japan. This “charter” granted 33% of all
profits to the Emperor.
In the meantime the operations at Three Saints Bay were under the
command of Eustrate Delaref, a Greek who had been at Unalaska for a number
of years, and who had been to Prince William Sound in 1781 with the first
Russian ships in those waters, he took charge of the company in 1788. Before
his watch (1786), some traders and hunters of the Lebedef Company came into
port of the St Paul and asked to be directed to the sea-otter grounds --- in order
to be rid of the un-welcomed visitors they were advised to go up Cook Inlet,
whey established a post on the Kisselof River.
Alexandr Baranov61, who was already managing Shelikohv’s interests at
Three Saint Bay, was the first governor of the company, from 1799 to July 11 th,
1818, establishing a legacy that remains at the forefront of Alaska even today.
Baranov experienced his first hostilities during the spring of 1792 on a visit to
Prince William Sound (to cultivate trade relations with locals), whereas on one
dark night he was attacked by a party of Tlingit from Yakutat. Two Russians and
ten Aleuts were killed, and scores wounded before Baranov’s men chased the
Tlingits to their boats. It was when he was in Prince William Sound that he met
Captain Moore, of the East Indian ship Phoenix, who gave him information on
Sitka – notwithstanding the information he also gave Baranov an Indian servant
(a native of Bengal) – who served Baranov faithfully for many years. It was
during his leadership that the first ship built in Alaska (Resurrection Bay –
Voskresenski – Southeast side of Kenai Peninsula – Seward) was launched in
August 1794, the ship Phoenix, 73 feet long, 23 foot beam, 13.5 feet draw and a
total capacity of 180 tons, it was rigged with 3-masts and had two decks – but it
sails were of such poor material (being made of fragments gathered from
Kamchatka to Kodiak) it barely made it back to Kodiak on its maiden voyage.
By 1792 the animal of wealth, sea otter, had been depleted along the
Aleutian Chain, and were decreasing in the waters of Prince William Sound and
61
Baranov had a trying experience on his journey to Alaska – sailing from Okhotsk (Three Saints) on August 19th, 1790 –
the ship wrecked at Kosheega Bay (Unalaska) – they made it ashore just to spend the winter amid bitter hardships. Three
bidars (from the skins of sea lions) were constructed, two sent to the North side of the Alaska Peninsula, they later joined
them on Kodiak Island. He arrived at Three Saints Bay on July 27th, 1791 and relieved “Delaref” – who returned to
Okhotsk the following year.

Cook Inlet, new hunting ground were needed. In 1793 a group of trusted
hunters were sent to Yakutat, the report being favorable the following year over
500 bidarkas, with over 1,000 Aleuts descended on the region like seagulls on
dead fish. They realized a very successful hunt!
During the autumn of 1794 men and supplies arrived from Okhotsk on the
Three Saints (author here, the Three Saints must have been a popular name for
ships built in Okhotsk, seems Baranov wrecked one in Unalaska on his trip to
Alaska), Ekaterina was the 2nd ship both providing steerage for 150
promishlenikis, 30 families of colonists (agricultural settlers) from the
Monarchoto Shelekof, and the Archimandrite Joassof with a retinue of priests,
sent to establish the church – the group brought with them nothing but trouble
for Baranov – at one time he wrote, “Even under my very eyes they had their
secret councils, and when I went away in the winter it came near causing
disastrous consequences.” He did have his hands full.
In an attempt to colonize Yakutat, Baranov sent Manager Polomoshno in
1795, who deliberately went to Nuchek (Prince William Sound) instead, wasted
the summer in inaction, then returned to Kodiak --- such was the
insubordination he dealt with from time-to-time in his rule of Russian America.
Eventually the Yakatat station was set up in 1796, with two separate buildings
and the port was named New Russia.
Baranov’s first visit to the Sitka region was aboard the Ekatarina in 1795,
this voyage made in his ever expanding search for the sea otter, which was
being depleted in the Russian’s present location. It is written that he paid a
small sum to the resident “Kiksadi”, Tlingit people of the region, in hopes to
keep others from occupying the land.
On May 25th, 179962 he returned with 100 employees (with their native
wives) on board the cutter Olga and the sloop-of-war Konstantin of the Imperial
Russian Navy, and sailing with the two ships were over 550 baidarkas with 600-
1000 Aleuts. Not in the mood to confront the locals he sailed past the Tlingit
strategic hilltop encampment (Noow Tlen – Big Fort) and made landfall some 7-
miles north of the colony, Katlianski Bay. There he constructed a large
warehouse, blacksmith shop, cattle sheds, barracks, stockade, block house,
bath house, quarters for the Aleut hunters, and a primary residence for himself
62
CL Andrews writes his 2nd trip was with the Ekaterina accompanied by the ship Orel [Eaglel under the command of
Lieutenant Talin, and has Baranov landing at Old Harbor on July 7th, 1799, on the Olga.

– Redoubt Saint Michael (Starrigavan Bay – or Old Harbor) had been established.
It is written that Baranov purchased the land from one of the local leaders, a
certain Skayeutlelt.
Although the Tlingit initially welcomed the newcomers, they did not agree
with a number of things the Russians had grown accustomed too, one major
sticking point being the taking of native women as their wives – which caused
constant “taunting” of the Kiksadi by other Tlingit clans63, who looked upon the
Kiksadi as the kalga, or slaves of the Russians. Some have written that the
Kiksadi were also jealous of the Aleut’s superior skill in the hunting of sea
otter64. Riding behind all of this animosity was the fact that the Russian’s
expected the locals to set their “allegiance” to the Tsar, and that therefore must
provide “free” labor to the Company.
Despite a number of unsuccessful Tlingit attacks against the post during the
winter of 1799, business soon prospered as the competition between the Aleuts
and the Kiksadi escalated in their hunting of the sea otter. March of the
following year found trading ships frequenting the port, both English and
American, on the 30th of March the American ship Caroline, commanded by
Captain Cleveland, purchased 300 sea otter skins, giving two-yards of broad
cloth for each skin, they also went against Baranov’s wishes and sold guns,
ammunition and large quantities of Rum – devil juice. They told Baranov, “we
have come ten thousand miles to get fur and will trade any kind of goods to
secure these furs!” As typical of Americans even today! In the meantime
pressing matters required that Baranov return to Three Saints Bay (which was
still the capital of Russian America), he packed up his staff and most of the
population he had arrived with and left in 180065. Vasilii G Medvednikov was left
in command with 25 Russians and 55 Aleuts – things went well. In the spring of
1802 the population of Redoubt Saint Michael (by now named New Archangel /
63
The Hoonahs, the Chilkats, the Kakes, and other kwans
64
The initial force of Aleut hunters was reduced and sent back to Kodiak, on the trip back (about 2-days out)
they stopped and ate some Black Mussels, whereas many were taken ill and within two-hours more than 100
died – hence the name Peril Strait.
65
Misfortune had struck his fleet – Orel was lost (Lieutenant Talin, where he and five of his men lost their
lives), soon after it is assumed the Phoenix was found on the west shore of Kodiak Island (still today it remains
one of the greatest mysteries of the sea), the St Michael was lost near Bolscheretsk and the St Alexander was
wrecked on her way to Okhotsk with a load of furs --- consequently it was years before any arrival of goods,
with warehouses full of furs and no trade articles coming in. It was during this time the a Mr. Banner, an
employee of the new company arrived from the homeland with dispatches telling of the formation of the
Russian American Company and of its powers and privileges. Which was granted by Emperor Paul in 1799. It
extended the empire southward to the sunny shores of California --- it was dated 27th, December 1799.

Nova Arkangelsk) had expanded to include 29 Russians, 3 British deserters, 200
Aleuts and a few Kodiak natives.
In 1801, it rumored that the Hudson Bay Company made a move to gain the
hunting rights or possession that Russia had in Southeast, meeting with a group
of clans in Angoon offering muskets, gunpowder along with a few other items
for exclusive fur trading rights. It was during this meeting (again a rumor) that
a plan was devised that the clans would attack Fort Saint Michael, with the
Hudson Bay Company supplying the muskets and gunpowder. The attack would
take place in the spring of 1802. Some historians believe that Tlingits from
Sitka, Angoon, Kake, Hoonah, Auke Bay, Stikines and Klukwan fought side-by-
side in the Battle of Sitka – 1802.
On June 20th, 1802 a group of Tlingit clans, initiating an attack from the
“Indian River” (Kaasda Heen) and nearby Crab Apple Island, against the Russian
fort. In complete battle regalia with painted faces, wearing wooden animal
masks, armed with spears and modern firearms, led by Chief Shk’awulyeil they
laid waste to the forts occupants, Katlean (young and active) was with the force
that attacked the fort. They killed all of the men (20 Russians and very close to
130 Aleut workers, Medvyednikov included), looted and burned the barracks
and storehouses, destroyed a ship under construction, and enslaved the
surviving women and children.
During the battle many Russians and Aleuts had been away from the post
hunting, and upon hearing the commotion of a battle had fled into the woods
reaching safety and relayed news of the attack to two foreign ships in the
sound, the ship Alert, Jacob Astors boat from Boston under the command of
Captain Ebetts, and the British ship, Unicorn sailing under Captain Barber. Later
on in the day Shk'awulyéil & Katlean were lured on board and were held hostage
until the Russian captives were set free. Upon securing the captives and over
2700 furs, Barber set sail to Kodiak were he attempted to relieve Baranov of
50,000 rubles for the return of his own people, Baranov ended up paying 10,000
rubles for their release.
During attack the party of hunters that had been sent to hunt by
Medvyednikov under the command of Urbanof went to Sea Otter Bay, took
1,300 skins and were returning by way of Chatham Strait, camping near
Kootznahoo on the night of the 20 th. Taking no unusual precaution (they hadn’t

experienced any hostilities from the locals) they were set upon during the night
and massacred, leaving only Urbanof and seven Aleuts who escaped into the
forest. The Tlingit drifted off into the night with there spoils, and Ubanof and his
band assembled some bidarkas (from the pieces left over on the beach),
headed straight for Sitka, where they found the smoldering ruins and set a
course for Yakutat.
Having achieved a great success the different clans returned home to
celebrate their resounding victory. The Tlingits had become tired of the strict
Russian rule and in their battle struck a large blow for their freedom and the
rule of the Russians. One Kiksadi shaman foretold the return of the Russian
sailing ships, bent on seeking revenge for their fellow man and their property.
This fearsome shaman Stoonookw was very adamant about the need for a new
fort capable of withstanding cannon fire – against many odds he reviled and
new fort was under construction in 1803 – the Kiksadi were preparing for total
war!
These misfortunes were very grievous to Baranov and his colonies filling him
with discouragement, and adding to this was his frequent attacks of rheumatism
all leading to a general depression that found him confined to his house for day
on end.
Late in the year (1802) the ship Elizabeth arrived, ladened with men,
provisions, and trading goods, a very welcome addition in every way. It
commander, Lieutenant N.A. Khvostov (of the Imperial Navy) and his assistant
Lieutenant Davidof also brought news of the completion of the organization of
the new company, and the plans for its enlargement. In May of the next year
news also arrived informing Baranov that he had been made a shareholder in
the Russian American Company and that he was given the honor of the gold
medal of the order of St Vladimir – and the operation of the company in America
rested solely on his shoulders – he was the supreme boss!
Shortly after its arrival, the Elizabeth was sent back to Okhotsk with a cargo
of fur valued at 1.2 million rubles, in which there were over 17,000 sea-otter
skins, a shipment that was one of the largest ever shipments to-date from the
colonies. Relieved of the mental stress of being a complete failure, Baranov set
to work formulating plans for the re-taking of Sitka. He took the cutter Olga and
reconnoitered the sound, returned by way of Yakutat, replaced the ill-fated

Polomoshno with Kuskof and order the building of two small ships for the next
year. During all of this he was informed he been newly appointed as Collegiate
Counsellor making him equal in rank to the Naval officers who had snubbed him
for years --- he had arrived!
In the beginning of the summer of 1804 (206 years ago) Baranov issued
summons to the natives of Kodiak and the Aleuts, calling them to assist in the
retaking of Nova Arkangelsk – his workforce being somewhat diminished he
managed to muster 300 bidarkas (800 men), and equip to small ships sailing
with 120 Russians. The bidarka fleet was under the command of his tried and
true leader, Demianenkof. Baranov followed with the Ekaterina and the
Alexander. They stopped at Yakutat and picked up the two ships he had
ordered built by Kuskof, the Yermak and the Rostislaf.
The Ekaterina and the Alexander were sent to Sitka, while Baranov sailed on
the Yermak overtaking the convoy of bidarkas and the Rostislaf, at Cross Sound
– after the disaster of Urbanof’s brigade no hunting party was to ever sail again
with the protection of an armed ship. They ran into a bit of a problem in Cross
Sound, but having overcome with just a few bidarkas lost they continued on to
Lynn Canal, then down Chatham Strait and through Peril Strait to Sitka, and
anchored in Cross Harbor (Krestof Bay) on Sept 25th, finding the Ekaterina, the
Alexander, and the Neva66 lying at anchor. The Neva, commanded by Captain
Yuri Lisianski, would later be towed by over 100 bidarkas to its anchorage near
the old Russian stronghold, for the upcoming battle.
The Neva arriving in Sitka on the 20th waited for the arrival of Baranov,
during this time an American ship under the command of Captain O’Keen
arrived and commenced trading with the locals. The Captain on trip ashore was
attacked by the Tlingit – Lieutenant Lisianski was quick to respond to his rescue
with an armed launch. The escaping Tlingit fled carrying their canoe over a
shoal line into another bay – where Lisianski’s launch could not follow. Lisianski
wrote in his log, “Their skill as marksmen was apparent from the shattered
66
Russian frigate Neva, a 200-foot-long, three-masted sailing ship that weighed 350 tons. It had 14 cannons and was
manned by a crew of 50 professional sailors. The Neva was of English design and construction. It was a new ship and
state-of-the-art in warships of that era. It was purchased in London in 1803 by Lisianskii along with the Nadezhda for
22,000 pounds sterling. Nicholas P Rezanov (Ambassador to Japan at the time) sailed on the Nedezhda to Japan
accompanied by naturalists “Tilesius von Tillenau”, “Georg Heinrich von Langsdorff”, and the astronomer “Horner”.

condition of Captain O’Keen’s launch, as well as from the collar of his coat,
through which a bullet had passed!”
Baranov consulted with Lisianski on the attack, realizing they had to take the
Tlingit fortified post located with a commanding view of the harbor (which is
now present day Sitka). The primary fortification was near the mouth of the
Indian River (it is a park today) and was built as an irregular square, its long
side looking toward the sea – constructed with timber that shot from any gun
would not penetrate it at even a short distance. It had two large gates and one
single door, facing the woods, with 14 houses (barabaras).
On the 28th the Russians moved their ships toward the site of Sitka (Neva
towed), while the Tlingit were dancing their ritual war dances and the shamans
invoking the aid of God as the boats drew near shore. All night the Russians
listened to the chant of the local shamans…on the morning of the 29 th Baranov
took possession of the abandoned fort on the hill (Castle Hill or Baranov Hill
today) where he placed several cannon. At dusk Katlian (the new leader having
replaced Shk’awulyeil) sent messengers asking the Russians their demands –
the demands for hostages and the retreat from the new fort were rejected. In a
surprise move the Kidsadi appointed a new war chief, Katlian, who replaced Shk'awulyéil,
leader of the successful war of 1802.
Neither side rushed into battle, Baranov stalled to get a better lay of the land and forces
he was up against, nor the Kidsadi waiting for their partners of 1802 to who they had sent
messages, but had received no affirmative reply.
While waiting for their reply the local Tlingit devised a battle plan – first they set the
long-standing custom that all houses would fight under Katlian and his shaman. Their plan
was a simple one where they would test the strength and intentions of the Russians at Noow
Tlein (Castle Hill), then they would fall back to the new fort “Shis’gi Noow”, which as we
know was located at the high-water line near “Kaasdaheen” (Indian River) – where the new
fort had been constructed to take advantage of the long gravel beach flats that extend far out
into the bay. It was planned in such a manner to reduce the distance and the effect of
cannon fire from the Russian ships. The Kiksadi calculated that once they were settled in
the new fort they would use delaying tactics to gain time, permitting the arrival of the
northern tribes --- their shaman being consulted said he could not see any of their allies

traveling towards Sitka, so they continued to see a “dark force” in their future. The tribes
from the north were not coming.
In the meantime Baranov’s patience was running thin and to move the stalemate he
ordered the cannons to open fire on the canoes --- after destroying the canoes he ordered an
all out assault on the new fort – they were met with a large body of armed Kiksadi led by
Katlian in his raven hat, where when the Aleuts seen them they ceased their pulling of the
guns, deserting their duties and fled. After a quick battle, with Baranov managing to escape
dragging the guns back, the Russians barely escaped with their lives with the Neva firing
shot to cover their retreat. Twelve Russians were killed and twenty-six wounded, Baranov
himself suffering a wound, and they left some artillery pieces on the beach. The Kiksadi
celebrated their victory that night. Maintaining their original vow that, “they could not
surrender and become slaves of the Russians. We will fight alone if we have to!” The
decision was made --- but they needed more gunpowder – their supply was low.
Their reserve gunpowder was located in a small cave on one of the small islands in
Jamestown Bay – about one-half mile away. After picking a band of young high-caste men
from each house and placing a respected elder as their leader, the band crossed through the
woods behind the fort to retrieve their much needed supply of gunpowder. It was an early
morning supply party - after retrieving the gunpowder the band decided not to wait for the
cover of darkness to return to the fort – instead they would leave in broad daylight paddle
like the wind and save the day with the gunpowder.
As they rounded the point to the fort the Russians spotted them and as soon as they
reached a suitable range for their cannons opened fire. The young men returned fire with
their muskets and paddled for their life. The Russians got lucky – for in the midst of this
minor Naval Battle, a single cannon shot landed squarely in the middle of the canoe, a
tremendous explosion! When the smoke cleared, the canoe and its crew of paddlers were
gone from the face of the earth – gone! Day two had begun!
Baranov having suffered battlefield wounds was in no shape to command the assault,
and Lieutenant Lisianski being the cautious man he was, and wanting to complete his round
the world circumnavigation played it safe by laying down a steady cannon bombardment
against the fort. Little damage was done with this 4-5 hour siege. In early afternoon
Lisianski ordered a cease fire and sent a contingent ashore under the white flag, his message

was simple – surrender! This message was rejected and a counter-offer was returned to the
Lieutenant – you surrender!
Lisianski lifted the cease-fire and the cannon fire continued till nightfall. The Kiksadi
had maintained their watch for the Russians attempting to land forces, it never came. After
dark they met to consider the day’s events, and after careful count realized that they were
short of gunpowder having used so much the day before. In another sense they believed the
Russians were unable to launch another ground attack having suffered too many losses the
previous day.
Consulting the shaman once more he reported his vision still did not include any of the
northern kwans – no warriors were on their way to assist! The pondered the facts, very little
gunpowder and the northern tribes were not on their way! These facts made victory to the
Kidsadi seem less likely, with the possibility of a large defeat on the field of battle --- and
that holding the fort without gunpowder was also a lost cause.
Each house chief agreed on one thing --- delaying tactics were in order. Again they were
hoping for a northern salvation.
One discussion proposed leaving the battlefield and marching to the north. Abandon
Shis’gi Noow and live to fight another day. “We cannot be defeated on the battlefield if we
are not on the battlefield to be defeated!” A committee was formed to weight the pros and
cons of a survival march to the north – in reality the Tlingit people being a strong and
healthy walked almost everywhere they went, usually with a heavy load on their backs,
where they didn’t walk they paddled their large canoes.
At the crack of dawn on the 3rd day Yuri ordered the continued bombardment of the fort,
the Neva’s guns were relentless in their salvos, in the middle of this the Kidsadi employed a
tactic to delay the fire by offering a truce, hostage exchange, promises of more talks, and
held out the outright possibility of surrender.
During all of this the elderly with their young grandchildren made off through the back
of the fort through the forest to Gajaa Heen (Old Sitka). At nightfall the House Leaders met
discussing the actual “Survival March”, working through the evening hammering out the
details….the first group had left, now it was the time for the young mothers and their
children. Now the plans were laid out for the rest of the clan(s) to follow, with the meeting
over the individual families organized themselves for the long march.

The younger leaders called a 2nd meeting, laying out a future structure on how to deal
with the invaders. “Survival is not enough, we must plan for our return to Sheet’ka, we
must block Peril Straits and no Tlingit must be allowed to trade with the Russians in
Sheet’ka”. They went on to establish their long-standing ownership in the land (11,000
years is a long time), “we must return to Sheet’ka for the herring egg harvest and to all our
fish camps next summer – all Tlingits must know and understand the Kiksadi still own
Sheet’ka. This statement met with a majority agreement, the preparations began for the
Survival March.
“Take only what is absolutely needed. For we will do as marchers have done down
through the ages, we will live from the land.”
Again on day four, Lieutenant Yuri Lisianski began at the dawn with heavy cannon fire
from the Neva. During small breaks in the action Yuri & Baranov made offers to the
Kidsadi, all were rejected. The cannon fire resumed.
Late in the afternoon of the 6th of October, the Kiksadi made an offer to “accept” the
Russian’s terms --- stating that they would leave Shis’gi Noow the day of the next day. This
offer by the Kiksadi was to clear the way for the last minute preparations to begin their
evacuation.
After the sun slipped into the ocean, the Kidsadi gathered for the last time in Shis’gi
Noow. The remaining elders thanked everyone for defending the homeland of the Kiksadi,
thanking them for their bravery in battle and for all agreeing to the Survival March.
All the houses gathered together for one last song, a very sad song from the heart of
everyone in Shis’gi Noow – expressing their pain, and anguish at the outcome of this great
battle – expressing their grief at the loss of Shis’gi Noow and Noow Tlein, their tribal house,
their many canoes, the young men in the gunpowder canoe, loss of so many friends, and
relatives, grandfathers, fathers, uncles, husbands, brothers, sisters --- and last but not least
their ceremonial regalia. And the young warriors mourned the loss of another chance to
fight a hand-to-hand battle with their hated enemies – the song ended with a long and loud
drum roll and a wail of anguish. Then they stole away under the cover of darkness.
On board the ships at anchor the Russians on hearing this song cheered, supposing that
surrender would be forthcoming the next day.

The following day Lieutenant Yuri Lisianski at the head of a large contingent secured a
beachhead and set to reconnoiter the area --- much to his surprise he found Shis’gi Noow
deserted – the following day (after visiting the fort) he was to write in his ships log;
“Having come ashore, I observed the most barbaric sight that could bring even the most
hardened heart to tremble and recoil. Assuming that we could trace them in the woods
by the voices of infants and dogs, the Sitkans put them all to death…the entire set of
circumstances led us to conclude that the fortress had contained no less than 800 persons
of male gender.”
Other historical notes (CL Andrews – Story of Alaska-Page 80) states the following;
“The next day the Russians found only two old women and a little boy, who had been
left behind, but inside the fort were the bodies of 30 Kolosh (Tlingit) who had been
killed during the battle, and the bodies of five children were also found who had been
killed to prevent their cries making known the retreat.”
Baranov had the fort “razed” to preclude the slight possibility of it being used as a
stronghold against the Russians ever again.
It is not “exactly” known in which manner the Kiksadi reached their final destination at
Cháatl Káa Noow (Halibut Point or Point Craven) in Peril Strait, from there with canoes
made of their age old wood Red Cedar carried them northward through Chatham Strait.
Several Kiksadi men remained behind to harass the Russians, I suppose to prevent any
from pursuing the escaping clans. They did kill eight Aleut trappers in Jamestown Bay, and
another shot in the woods near New Archangel – these minor skirmishes causing the
Russians to send out future hunting parties under heavy guard – and through the Tlingit
telegraph the other clans in Southeast were asked to avoid contact with the Russians.
After the dust had settled, work begun in earnest of the ground that had been taken back.
They built a fortification atop the hill at Noow Tlein (the old Tlingit fort) consisting of a
high wooden palisade with three watchtowers (armed with 32 cannon). By the summer of
1805 there were a total of eight building constructed inside the stockade – workshops,
barracks and the Governor’s residence. New Archangel had been re-established, with the
fort carrying the name of Redoubt Archangel Michael. It is said Baranov composed a ballad
called the Song of Baranov, proclaiming the work of the Russians in the New World, which
was sung at the dedication, and at the establishing of every post afterward placed in America
--- this man was truly talented – wonder what happened to the song?

Finding the situation under control, Lieutenant Yuri F Lisianski left Sitka on November
10th, 1804 arriving at St Paul’s harbor in Kodiak – he spent the winter in Kodiak. The winter
he spent his time studying the natural history of the region and composed detailed
ethnographic observations – his finding were very disturbing.
He found that the native population had diminished by nearly 50% during the Russian
occupation of the region, finding that all the natives were living in abject poverty mostly as a
direct result of Baranov conscripting the men for their hunting skills. In St Paul, the poverty
was less – but nevertheless they were living far below their accustomed survival – he
assembled a council to discuss the general lack of work being done in the colony. The
people all reply in concert, “what is the use, the company charges us such high prices for
everything we get that we would never be able to do anything with what we earn.” The
Lieutenant later wrote in his log, that such reports made him “blush” with shame for the
honor of his country.
While in Kodiak he listened to stories about the appearance of a new volcanic island in
the Fox Islands. Lisianski related the story:
The island appeared suddenly about the middle of April 1797. The first news about this
miracle was brought by the Aleuts who, coming in from the sea, assured everyone in the
Captain’s Harbor (on Unalaska) that they saw not far away fire over the sea surface. The fire
breathing mountain, emitting flame, was emerging from the depth of the sea little by little so
that in May 1798 the newly emerged island could be seen from the Makushin settlement on
Unalaska, though it was situated no less than 70 verst67 to northwest. This island nowadays,
so they say, resembles a relatively high hat, and has a circumference of about 20 verst. It has
been told that it has not grown since 1797. The molten matter that ruptured the surface of
some peaks scattered the mountain rocks of which they were composed. It is asserted that
this new work of nature could be seen from the very beginning of its emergence from the
Island of Umnak.
Despite his short stay in the colonies, the Lieutenant admired the local’s knowledge
about their natural environment and in particular their ability to foretell the weather. He was
very impressed with the Kodiak Islanders ability to sail across great distances in their
baidaras and their baidarkas, noting their fearlessness in facing the dangers of the Alaskan
waters.
67
A verst is equal to .6628788 miles – 70 verst equal 46.4 miles, 20 verst equals 13.26 miles

Not being the only person to notice, he took great interest in the depletion of the fur
resources in the region – becoming the first among many to insist on the institution of
measures of the protection of the animals, and also to protect the local fauna, and to improve
the living conditions of the Aleut and Kodiak natives. He forced the issue (a ukas made by
Baranov) that when the natives ventured to distant hunting ground their baidarkas (and
them) would be hauled aboard the company vessels – this became a practice of the Russian-
American Company.
Spring of 1805 found the settlement at New Archangel with the eight structures, fifteen
kitchen gardens and livestock. The Tlingit remaining (other than an occasional trip for
herring) away from the post during the previous years building a fort at Kootznahoo and one
at the opening of Peril Strait into Chatham Strait.
On June 22nd, the Neva returned from Kodiak and an invitation was issued to the Kiksadi
for a large feast where they were entertained and given presents, they responded with songs
and dancing throughout the day – a treaty was concluded with “part” of the clan with the
others remaining hostile and refusing to deal with the invaders.
The Tlingit
Right about now I’d like to take a short break from the Russian side of the equation and
present some information about the Tlingit, it will be from various sources to include the
WWW – and from a new source (to me) written by “Archimandrite Anatoli Kamenskii –
Russian Orthodox Priest”, mostly not available in the USA – published in the early 1900s. I
have taken the liberty to substitute new terminology where necessary, for instance instead of
Kaliuzh or Kolosh, Tlingit is the title I used. Further through gained knowledge I have
substituted “tribe” for Nation, and other liberal uses of the “tribe”, using Clan or House
where necessary. Some of the information will be “old hat” to some of you, but please keep
in mind that there will be friends of mine who will have a very limited knowledge base of
our people.
Although there are many different Nations in Alaska I have chosen at this time to
concentrate on the Tlingit – following is a list of 13 Nations in Alaska:
1. Athabaskan -name for a large group of closely related peoples, [Athabasca, or
Athapaskes Indians)
2. Aleuts (Unangax, Unangan, or Unanga)

3. Alutiiq (Pacific Yupik or Sugpiaq) Coastal branch of the Yupik
4. Chugach (Kenai Peninsula and Prince William Sound)
5. Deg Hit’an (Deg Xinag, Deg Xit’an, Deg Hitan, Degexit’an, Ingalik, Ingalit,
Inkaliten, Inkality, or Kaiyuhkhotan) related to the large group of Athabaskan ---
please note that the older name Ingalik and its derivatives are considered offensive to
the Deg Hit’an
6. Dena’ina (also Tanaina)
7. Gwich’in (Kutchin or Gwitchin) [one who dwells] sometimes referred to in the
French vernacular as Loucheux or Loucheaux, or as some missionaries referred to
the nation as “Tukudh”
8. Haida – Southeast Alaska
9. Holikachuk (Innoko, Innoka-khotana, Tlegon-khotana) another arm of the
Athabaskan living in Western Alaska.
10. Inupiat (Inupiaq) – Inuit people Northwest Arctic, North Slope, Bering Straits and
Barrow (northernmost city in the USA) – Language is Inupiaq.
11. Koyukon (Athabaskan group – northern Alaska)
12. Tlingit
13. Tsimshian --- People Inside the Skenna River --- Southeast Alaska
14. Yupik (western Alaska)
The Tlingit during the Russian occupation were a large loosely semi-organized Nation,
with many clans and house scattered across the Alexander Archipelago and as far north as
south central Alaska. The name “Tlingit” means human beings --- originally utilized to
distinguish a human from an animal, as the Tlingit belief holds that there is very little
difference between the human and the animal. At the time of the Russian occupation, it has
been estimated there were approximately 15,000 Tlingits in Alaska albeit a number that is
considered far too low, who had occupied the land for over 11,000 years. Whereas the
Haida people have only occupied the lower end of Prince of Wales Island for the last 200 or
so years, and the Tsimshian migrating from British Columbia as recently as 1887 under the
leadership of Father Duncan.
Tlingit legends tell of many different migrations into Southeast Alaska, from several
directions – from the north Bering Sea land bridge, from the southwest, after a long

maritime journey from the Polynesian islands, or some say from the south (the Southwestern
part of the United States (Hopi legend speaks of the division of clans), whereas the Bear clan
traveled north across the continent.
The Tlingit Nation is unique and unrelated to other tribes around them, where they have
“no” linguistic relationship with any other language with the exception of a “vague”
similarity with the Athabaskan’s. With whom they also share “some” cultural similarities,
they also have “traded” and interacted with the Athabaskan’s for centuries. At the end of the
day, all this means is no one really knows the origin of the Tlingit. I did find it interesting
that “Kamenskii” surmised (1906) that the Tlingit were a “vanguard” Nation moving from
East to West across the continental United States, driven to the waters edge by other tribes,
and being defeated sought shelter among the islands of the Pacific Northwest, going on to
state he figured they had only occupied Alaska during the past 400-500 years or in the
1400s. He admits there is really no evidence to establish and exact time frame, but he felt
his estimate to be fairly accurate.
They are grouped and divided into distinct regions called “kwan”, where some estimates
put the number of kwans at 15 or 20 at the time of European contact. A Kwan was a number
of people who shared a mutual area, shared residences, intermarried, and lived in relative
peace amongst themselves. The number of kwans today makes a comprehensive list, such
as follows:
1. Galyax Kwaan ---- Yakataga, Controller Bay area, Salmon Stream Tribe
2. Xunaa Kwaan ----Hoonah, “Tribe or People from the Direction of the Northwind
3. S’awdaan Kwaan ----Sumdun, “Dungeness Crab Town Tribe”
4. Kooye Kwaan ---- Kuiu Island “Stomach Tribe”
5. Takjik’aan Kwaan ---- Prince of Wales “Coast Town Tribe”
6. Hinyaa Kwaan ---- Klawock “Tribe from across the Water”
7. Laaxaavik Kwaan ---- Yakutat area “Near the Ice People”
8. T’aaku Kwaan ---- Taku area “Geese Flood Upriver Tribe”
9. Xutsoowu Kwaan ---- Angoon “Brown Bear Fort” or
10. Xudzidaa Kwaan ---- Angoon “Burnt Wood Tribe”
11. Gunaaxoo Kwaan ---- Dry Bay “Among the Athabascans Tribe
12. Deisleen Kwaan ---- Teslin (Canada) “Big Sinew Tribe”
13. Sheey At’ika (Sheet’ka) Kwaan ---- Sitka “Outside Edge of a Branch Tribe”

14. Shtax’heen Kwaan ---- Wrangell “Bitter Water Tribe”
15. Jilkaat Kwaan ---- Klukwan “Chilkat Tribe”
16. Jilkoot Kwaan ---- Haines “Chilkoot Tribe”
17. As Tlein Kwaan ---- Atlin (Canada) “Big Lake Tribe”
18. Keex Kwaan ---- Kake “The Opening of the Day [Dawn’ Tribe”, or “The town that
never sleeps”
19. Taant’a Kwaan ---- Ketchikan “Sea Lion Tribe”
20. Ask’w Kwaan ---- Auke Bay “Small Lake Tribe”
21. Sanyaa Kwaan ---- Cape Fox “Secure in Retreat, Like a Fox in its Den Tribe”
As it can be seen, most of the urban communities of Southeast Alaska occupy sites of
many of the “traditional kwan” localities.
It seems, (with recorded history) that Chirikov was the first European to make contact
with the Tlingit, such as it was, when his men were taken captive in July of 1741. And as in
the continental United States (lower-48) their lives were changed forever. After a brief point
in history, the Russians actually did more for the Tlingit during their occupation of 126-
years, 3-months and 3-days in Alaska, then has the US Government done since. I know they
reluctantly gave the native of Alaska full citizenship on June 2, 1924, over 56-years after
Seward made his famous purchase --- more than half-a-century after someone sold their land
to someone who was paying an old debt for the help that the Russians gave the U.S. during
the Civil War – odd isn’t it!
Enough of the political stuff --- we all know and understand that the European never did
his native brothers any great service at any time, not even lately.
The Tlingit, like every other native nation across the America’s, were perfectly capable
of supporting their lifestyle, albeit they didn’t have the niceties of some European countries
and to quite honest they didn’t need them. They not pushing themselves away from the
dinner table (as some European and Asia countries were, having problem feeding their
population, and needed to expand their territories), they were comfortable with their ways
and culture – yes they got a little carried away from time-to-time and had a war or two,
kidnapped some beautiful native maidens. But all in all, not to the excess that Greece, Rome
or any other country that was “civilized, educated and on top of their world”, not even close.
A couple of authors look down their nose at the Tlingit and how they considered War a
honorable activity comparing them to the “fearless” Vikings of another northland. It is

difficult for this author to agree that they should or should not have been proud of their
achievements in Warfare --- but to the way outsiders classified the “people” and their ability
to conduct exercises in War! And dwell on it! The primarily fought to protect their
homeland, as most other Indians did across the North and South American land mass.
The Tlingit society might seem complicated to some, with all of it separate kwans, clans,
and houses. Some early historical writers compared the Tlingit social system to that of a
semi-savage state, and characterized them as “human life” on the eve of the civilized era;
those who made this idiotic comparison really didn’t understand the indigenous people of
land basing their beliefs on 2nd hand knowledge. Going back with reference to the biblical
customs of the patriarchs in the Old Testament, and going on to say that the Mormons (along
with some scholars) that the American Indian was or is a branch of the Israelite people…my
response to that since I can remember is that to this day (and before) that there was never a
Native American alive that would wander around in a desert for forty-years. Never!
All Tlingit are divided into two moieties (tribes if you will), a number of kwans, clans
with in each kwan, and separate family houses (barabora) in each clan. The Raven moiety is
considered to be larger than the Wolf (Eagle) moiety, and some maintain the Kiksadi to be
the oldest clan and was the most powerful during its conflicts with the Russians. The most
numerous clan (in early 1900s) of the Wolf moiety was the Kaagwaantaan, Kukhantan.
The Tlingit believe that all “life” is of equal value, whether it be plants, trees, birds, fish,
animals, and human beings are all equally respected. Clans and family Houses have
identifying crests – where a clan is equally proud of its crest, whether it is a killer whale or a
small snail. In other words, there are “no” recognized superior species. A Tlingit
community today, shares these values and is very sensitive to their fulfillment.
They do not tolerate the misuse or misappropriation of their crests, names, songs,
designs, stories, or other items they consider their property. Frederica de Laguan’s (in 1972)
Under Mt St Elias: The History and Culture of the Yakatat Tlingit, discussed in detail a clan
dispute with another clan on the ownership of a particular crest over a century ago, where
the issue turned into a social, political, and legal battle that ensured for “decades”, and in
many ways remains unsolved today.
When you use a killer whale song, or crest design “without” acknowledging the
ownership of the clan, (or get permission to use it) it is considered stealing of the highest
order. They demand respect be given towards other individuals and their clans, whereas

when a person feels “insulted” by another person or clan, payment must be made as soon as
possible by the person or the responsible clan. Most times the process relieving the insult
must be done publicly – if this doesn’t happen the bad feeling persist, creating a cloud of
negative feelings across clan lines – feelings that will persist until the apology is
forthcoming.
Centuries ago when a Tlingit was seriously hurt of killed, the “eye for an eye”
philosophy would always determine the punishment, if a person was killed by another from
another clan, then the person guilty of the deed would have to die, or someone of equal
status from his clan. Naturally in this day and time, these events are covered by the
American legal system, but the family of the perpetrator is subject to social ostracism – still
today the perpetrator’s clan can make a payment to adjust for the crime.
During the early contact with the European, especially by some missionaries, it was
erroneously noted that the Tlingit population “worshipped” totems, idolized animals or birds
as gods, and held heathen rituals. As a result, and this is sad, some religious leaders took it
upon themselves instructing their Native congregations to burn or destroy elements of their
art and culture, consequently many Tlingit heirlooms were destroyed never to be seen again,
remarkably or unremarkably the same happened in Middle America during the occupation
by the Spain. Once again ignorance by the invading forces destroyed much of the existing
culture of the region. In this case these acts undermined the complexity and local power of
the Tlingit culture and society.
The Russian-American Company

Shortly after the dust had settled in Sitka the Company went about its original business,
making money, albeit in a half-hazard fashion. After the death of Grigory Shelikhov,
Nilolay Petrovich Rezanov became the head of the Russian American Company, at the time
not yet recognized for the power-house it would soon become through his efforts. The
famous “Trust” which in the end had crowded out all of the small companies and
independent traders, was a large source of revenues to Rezanov and the other shareholders,
which included members of the Imperial family.
Rezanov was tasked by the shareholders, mainly the Imperial family to go to the Russian
colonies (Alaska and California) as the Imperial inspector (Chamberlain of the Emperor)

and the expert problem solver, and having supreme control, in the company’s affairs to
correct the problems it was experiencing.
After an embarrassing tour of duty as the envoy to Japan, he sailed to Petropaulovsk on
the Nadeshda in early 1805. Sailing onward to Alaska on the Maria captained by a Russian
Navy Officer, N.A. Khvostov, he first visited the Seal Islands (Pribilof Islands), and finding
the region over-hunted he established rules and guidelines followed by all company hunters
and merchants. Where he limited hunting in certain areas and to hunt only those male seals
between the ages of two or three years old. Traveling onto Kodiak he established a school
and founded a library with his own personal books, he had brought from St Petersburg. He
went onto to begin a program under Mrs. Banner (wife of the residing manager) that taught
young girls cooking and housekeeping, even thought it was a short-lived exercise it
demonstrated his efforts in educating the locals in Kodiak.
While in Kodiak he issued a strong reprimand to the monks for their lack of attention to
a number of items, one being their lack of energy spent on the land and the Christian and
general education of young men. He then placed Father Nektar in charge of the general
education for boys, and Father Herman (later to become St Herman 68) was assigned twenty
boys for instruction in farming.
From Kodiak Rezanov went to Sitka, where he found the living conditions very crude,
his quarters rough and primitive. He remarked, “We all fared poorly, but worse than all
lives the founder of this place, (Baranov), in a miserable hut, so damp that the floor is
always wet, and during heavy rains the place leaks like a sieve.” He went on to record, “we
live in perpetual fear of the Kolosh (Tlingit), with our cannons always loaded, and not only
are sentries with loaded guns posted everywhere, but arms of all kinds constitute the
principal furniture of the rooms.”
His crew added to the mouths of the residents already in Sitka showed that the supplies
were not sufficient, so when an American ship Juno arrived in port, laden with salt beef,
68
Little is known of the early life of St Herman, other than he was born in Serpukhov (Moscow Diocese) about 1756 –
and at the young age of 16 enter into the Christian faith at the Trinity-St Sergius Hermitage near St Petersbury, he along
with seven other monks arrived in Kodiak on September 24th, 1794. He was made the head of the Mission when the
Archimandrite Joasaph died when the ship they were on sank, Archimandrite was returning from Russia after being
consecrated a Bishop. After difficulties and persecution by the Russian-American Company, he left Kodiak and went to
Spruce Island (“Uzinkie”), where he spent the rest of his life taking care of orphans, ran a school and continued his
missionary work – ht managed to build a small chapel, school and guest house, and had an experimental garden from which
he and the orphans used as a primary food source – he never was “ordained” and remained a “monk” all his life. He died
on Dec 13th, 1837 and was made a Saint (glorified) on August 9th, 1970 in a very impressive ceremony in Kodiak. He is
buried on Spruce Island, by his followers.

sugar, molasses, flour and other supplies, he purchased the entire ship for about sixty-eight
thousand Spanish piastres – noticing that the Aleut where short on food he sent the Maria
(Khvostov) to Kodiak to fetch a cargo of yukali and whale fat.
When Khvostov returned from Kodiak he was the bearer of disappointment, the brig
Elizaveta had wrecked losing most of her cargo; that six bidars loaded with furs sank in a
storm with the loss of their crews and cargo’ that New Russia (Yakatat Fort) had been
destroyed by the Tlingit, and that their old and trusted leader, Demianenkov, and nearly two
hundred bidarkas with their hunters had been lost in a storm.
After the winter had ended and he had been successful in preventing the outpost is Sitka
from starving and loosing its status, he sailed on the ship he purchased for San Francisco, in
a grand attempt at establishing a post in Northern California in order to increase his fur trade
and supplement the post in Sitka. While in San Francisco he met and fell in love with
Maria Concepcion de Arguelio (who at the time was 15-years-old, and was in later years
said to be the most beautiful woman in California, the daughter of Jose Dario Arguello, and
was born in at the Presidio in 1791, their love is a story of legends, and many movies and
stories have been modeled after their romance.) Although he was received with great
courtesy and entertained night and day, no time was lost in informing him that the laws of
Spain forbade her colonies to trade with foreign powers (figured, it was Spain, a great power
brought to its knees because of its ignorance)….had it not been for his love for Concepcion
and her love for him he might have set sail for Sitka with no provisions. But, after
promising to return to marry Concepcion he set sail for Sitka with a full load of supplies and
an express mission to gain permission from the Tsar to marry the lady he loved so much. It
was not to be, on his return to the seat of the Russian Government he died of fever and
exhaustion in Krasnoyarsk, Siberia on March 8th, 1807. Forty-two years and 11 months after
the day he was born.
Nikolay Petrovich Rezanov’s love for Maria Concepcion de Arguelio has transcended the
ages, as late as 1979 composer Alexei Rybnikov and poet Andrey Voznesensky wrote one of
the first Russian rock operas, choosing the love affair of Rezanov and de Arguelio as their
subject and naming he opera after two of Rezanov’s ships, Juno and Avos, since that time
the opera was still being performed to standing ovations as of 2007.
End of Part One

History of Alaska - Part 1

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A Brief History of Alaska

James L Bradley - Kanook

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Beginning Russian Fur Trade and the Promishleniki

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The Aleuts Rebel

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Behind the Fur

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First Russian Colony in America

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The Russian-American Company

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